Disk magazine and disk loading device

ABSTRACT

A disk magazine (1) for containing a plurality of disks (8) includes a detachable lid (4) for covering its disk outlet (2), openable to take out the disks, a plurality of disk-pushers (6) for pushing out the disks (8) one by one through the outlet (2). This arrangement prevents dust from entering or disks from popping out of the magazine when the disk magazine (1) is not in use. A compact recording/reproducing apparatus provided detachably with the disk magazine (1) can be constructed using a single motor (85) to drive a pushing lever (87) for selectively thrusting the disk pushers (6) to selectively push disks (8) out of the disk magazine (1), and using upper and lower disk feed rollers for loading the pushed disk (8) onto, or unloading it from, a recording/reproducing drive unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disk magazine in which recordingand/or reproducing disks such as optical magnetic disks are housed in avertically stacked state, and to a disk loading device of arecording/reproducing apparatus for selectively loading the housed disksin a recording/reproducing drive unit so as to perform arecording/reproducing operation.

BACKGROUND ART

Magnetic disks, optical disks, optical magnetic disks, and the like arecurrently available as recording and/or reproducing disks. Of thesedisks, optical disks and optical magnetic disks normally allow rewrite,i.e., overwrite of recorded contents. However, optical disks in whichsignals are recorded as pits are generally used as playback disks.

Such disks have been used by various types of recording/reproducingapparatuses. One of these apparatuses employs a so-called automaticchanger system. In this system, a plurality of disks are directly housedin a disk magazine without being housed in cassette cases, and a disk isarbitrarily selected and taken out from the magazine to be loaded in arecording/reproducing drive unit, thereby performing a recording orreproducing operation. For example, a CD player of an automatic diskchange system is designed in this manner. As a recording/reproducingapparatus using such a disk magazine, attempts have been made to developan apparatus of a system in which a plurality of recording/reproducingdrive units are arranged and disks are taken out from a disk magazine soas to be respectively loaded in the recording/reproducing drive units sothat data can be simultaneously or selectively recorded or reproduced inor from the disks. For example, a disk player as an external storageunit in a computer system is being developed.

FIG. 16 shows a conventional disk magazine A used for such arecording/reproducing apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 16, reference symbol B denotes an outer casing havinga rectangular shape as a two-dimensional figure. In addition, the outercasing B has a box-like shape with an open front surface C, whileelongated holes E are formed in one side wall D so as to extend in theforward/backward direction at substantially equal intervals in theheight direction. Reference symbols F denote partition plates arrangedat substantially equal intervals in the height direction. The interiorof the outer casing B is partitioned into a plurality of disk housingspaces G by these partition plates F. The elongated holes E respectivelycorrespond to the disk housing spaces G. Disks H are respectively housedin the disk housing spaces G one by one. The disks H are held by anelastic member (not shown) located near a wall opposite to the diskhousing spaces G so as not to slip out of the disk housing spaces G.Reference symbols I denote disk push levers (partially shown)respectively arranged in the disk housing spaces G. Operation arms J ofthe disk push levers I respectively protrude from the wall D through theholes E, and are supported to be freely moved forward and backwardwithin a predetermined range. In addition, the operation arms J arenormally biased backward by an elastic member (not shown), so that whilethey are not biased forward, they are held at a position indicated bysolid lines.

The above-described disk magazine A is mounted on a disk magazinemounting portion of a disk player (not shown) in a predetermineddirection. When a disk push lever I corresponding to a designated disk His moved forward as indicated by alternate long and two short dashedlines in FIG. 16 by a disk loading mechanism, the designated disk H ispushed so that it partially protrudes from the opening C. The disk Hpushed out in this manner is taken out by a disk transfer means of thedisk loading mechanism and is loaded in a recording/reproducing driveunit.

When another disk H is designated or an ejection command of the diskmagazine A is performed, the disk H which is loaded in therecording/reproducing drive unit in the above-described manner isreturned into a predetermined disk housing space G of the disk magazineA by the disk loading mechanism.

In a read operation of signals from a magnetic disk or an opticalmagnetic disk, if dust adheres to a recording surface or the surface isdamaged, that part of the signal may drop out.

Since the opening C for ejecting disks of the conventional magazine A isalways open, and moreover a large number of holes E are formed to allowthe disk push levers I and the arms J to protrude from the magazine,dust and the like tend to enter the magazine through the opening C andthe holes E and adhere to the disks H.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above-described problem, a disk magazine of thepresent invention comprises a pivotal lid for opening and closing a diskejecting opening, and a plurality of disk push means having portions (tobe depressed) which are placed near the disk ejecting opening and aredepressed to cause disks to protrude by a predetermined amount.

With this arrangement, while the disk magazine is not attached to therecording/reproducing apparatus, the disk ejecting opening can be sealedby the lid. In addition, when the disk ejecting opening is open, theportions (to be depressed) of the disk push means are caused toexternally protrude from the magazine so that an operation of the diskpush means can be performed. Therefore, the portions (to be depressed)of the disk push means need not externally protrude from the magazine.With this arrangement, the disk magazine can be almost completely sealedwhile no disk is used. This can prevent dust and the like from enteringthe magazine and reliably prevent disks from accidentally slipping outfrom the magazine.

If a disk magazine is designed in the above-described manner, the diskpush means must be depressed in front of the disk ejecting opening ofthe disk magazine.

For this reason, in a disk loading apparatus of a recording/reproducingapparatus using such a disk magazine, means for depressing the disk pushmeans of the disk magazine may be constituted by, e.g., a proper presslever supported to be moved within a predetermined range in a directionparallel to the loading direction of the disk magazine, and anelectromagnetic plunger mechanism or the like for moving the presslever. In this arrangement, only during loading, the press lever ismoved to the disk magazine side.

In this arrangement, however, driving systems for actuating a disk pushmeans of the disk magazine and for driving a disk transfer means fortransferring a disk pushed out from the disk magazine to arecording/reproducing drive unit are independently arranged even thoughboth the systems serve as driving systems for disk loading. As a result,the number of parts is inevitably increased. Therefore, various problemsare posed, e.g., a complicated structure and an increase in cost andsize. In addition, this arrangement requires a control means or the likefor controlling operation timings between the two drive systems.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the presentinvention, there is provided a disk loading apparatus comprising anopening/closing mechanism, attached to the recording/reproducingapparatus, for opening/closing the lid of the disk magazine, one motorto be rotated in a forward direction during loading of the disk and tobe rotated in a reverse direction during unloading, a driving gear to berotated in forward and reverse directions by the motor, an engagingportion formed projecting on the driving gear, a press lever, designedto be freely moved within a predetermined range, for selectivelydepressing portions (to be depressed) of the disk push means using pressportions, clutch means for engaging/disengaging the engaging portion ofthe driving gear with/from the press lever, and disk transfer meanswhich is rotated in a forward direction upon forward rotation of themotor so as to load the disk, which is pushed out of the disk magazineby the disk push means, in a recording/reproducing drive unit and whichis rotated in a reverse direction upon reverse rotation of the motor soas to unload the disk from the recording/reproducing drive unit and totransfer the disk to the disk magazine.

With this arrangement, the following two operations can be performedusing one motor: pushing a disk out of the disk magazine by depressingthe disk push means of the disk magazine using the press lever; andloading/unloading the disk pushed out of the disk magazine in/from therecording/reproducing drive unit by using the disk transfer means. Inaddition, since control required for the press lever, i.e., controllingthe press lever to depress the disk push means only during loading andnot to depress the disk push means during unloading, can be performed byone clutch means, the number of parts can be decreased, thus realizing alow-cost, compact apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a disk magazine according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, in which FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along aline I--I in FIG. 3, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a statewherein a lid is moved to a position to open a disk ejecting opening ofa magazine body, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along a line III--IIIin FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a portionother than a bottom plate portion, and FIG. 5 is a perspective viewshowing a bottom plate, a lock slider, and the like; FIGS. 6 to 14 showa disk loading apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, in which FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the outerappearances of a recording/reproducing apparatus and a disk magazine,FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view taken along a line VII--VIIin FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line VIII--VIII inFIG. 7, FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view showing a main part of the diskloading apparatus, FIG. 10 is an exploded, enlarged perspective viewshowing a main part of the disk loading apparatus, FIG. 11 is anenlarged side view showing an opening/closing mechanism of a lid of adisk magazine, FIGS. 12A to 12D are partially enlarged side viewssequentially showing disk loading operations, FIG. 13 is a partiallyenlarged side view for explaining a disk unloading operation, and FIGS.14A to 14C are enlarged sectional views taken along a line XIV--XIV inFIG. 3 and sequentially showing movement of a press pin and a leafspring member when disk loading is performed; FIG. 15 is a perspectiveview showing a modification of the disk loading apparatus; and FIG. 16is a perspective view showing a conventional disk magazine.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A disk magazine and a disk loading device according to embodiments ofthe present invention will be described below in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment in which a disk magazine of the present invention isapplied to an optical magnetic disk magazine will be described belowfirst with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

A disk magazine 1 comprises a substantially box-like magazine body 3having a large opening 2 formed in its front surface (The left and rightsides in FIG. 1 are respectively assumed to be front and rear sides, andthe upper and lower sides in FIG. 1 are respectively assumed to be leftand right sides. The directions which will be indicated in thedescription on the disk magazine 1 are based on these assumptions.), alid 4 pivotally supported by the magazine 3 so as to open/close theopening 2, four partition plates 5 which are respectively arranged inthe magazine body 3 at predetermined intervals in the height direction,four disk push means 6, and the like. The magazine body 3 is partitionedinto four thin spaces 7 (to be referred to as disk housing spaceshereinafter) by the partition plates 5 and the like. Optical magneticdisks 8 as recording and/or reproducing disks are respectively housed inthese four disk housing spaces 7 one by one so as to be freely taken outand inserted. These optical magnetic disks 8 are held by a disk holdspring 9 located at the left end portion in the magazine body 3 so asnot to be easily moved to the outside of the magazine.

The lid 4 is pivotally supported by the magazine body 3 so as to bemoved between an opening position at which the opening 2 is open and aclosing position at which the opening is closed. While the lid 4 is setat the closing position, it is locked by a lock slider 10 as a lockmeans located at the lower end portion in the magazine body 3. When thedisk magazine 1 is attached to a disk magazine mounting portion of arecording/reproducing apparatus (to be described later), the above lockis released, and the lid is moved to the opening position.

The disk push means 6 comprise slide levers 11 which are respectivelyarranged in the four disk housing spaces 7 and supported to freely slideforward and backward, and pivot arms 12 (only the uppermost arm isshown) which are supported to be pivotal in substantially forward andbackward directions and have proximal end portions respectively meshedwith the rear end portions of the slide levers 11. Front end faces 11a(to be referred to portions to be depressed) of the side levers 11 arelocated near the opening 2 of the magazine body 3 so as to face forward.When the slide levers 11 are depressed backward, the pivot arms 12 aremoved from a position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 1 (to be referredto as a non-push position) to a position indicated by alternate long andtwo dashed lines in FIG. 1 (to be referred to a push position). Withthis operation, the pivot arm 12 pushes the optical magnetic disk 8 outof the case 1 by a predetermined amount as indicated by an alternatelong and two short dashed line in FIG. 1, i.e., part of the opticalmagnetic disk 8 forward from the opening 2. Note that depression of theslide levers 11 is performed by a disk loading apparatus of arecording/reproducing apparatus to be described later.

The magazine body 3 comprises a main body and a bottom plate.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a main body constituting the most part ofthe magazine body 3. The components of the main body 13 are made of asynthetic resin and integrally formed.

More specifically, the main body 13 is constituted by the followingcomponents which are integrally formed with each other: a substantiallyrectangular top plate 14, an outer wall 15 extending downward from theleft and right edges and the rear edge of the top plate 14; three innerwalls 16, 17 and 18 perpendicularly extending from the lower surface ofthe top plate 14, bosses 19 and 20 for attaching the bottom plate, andthe like.

The length of the top plate 14 in the right/left direction is slightlylarger than that in the forward/backward direction. The length of thetop plate 14 in the forward/backward direction is slightly larger thanthe diameter of each optical magnetic disk 8. Front end portions 21a and22a of left and right side portions 21 and 22, i.e., left and rightwalls 21 and 22 have larger thickness than the remaining portions of theleft and right walls 21 and 22 such that the inner surfaces of the frontend portions 21a and 22a are located inwardly from the inner surfaces ofthe remaining portions. Lid mounting notches 23 are respectively formedin the outer surfaces of the thick portions 21a and 22a. The lidmounting notches 23 have upper ends reaching the upper surface of thetop plate 14 and front ends reaching front end faces 21b and 22b of theside walls 21 and 22, respectively. In addition, the lower ends of theinner walls 16, 17, and 18 extend to a position slightly higher than thelower end of the outer wall 15.

Of the three walls 16, 17 and 18, the left inner wall 16 located nearthe left side wall 21 has a front end continuously formed with the rearend of the thick front end portion 21a of the left side wall 21, and hasa rear end extending near a rear wall 24, i.e., a rear portion of theouter wall 15. In addition, a spring mounting notch 25 is formed in theinner wall 16 at a position slightly shifted forward from the middleportion in the forward/backward direction. A portion of the inner wall16 located on the front side from the notch 25 extends parallel to theleft side wall 21. A portion 27 between a position located slightlyshifted backward from the notch 25 and a rear end portion 26 is curvedto extend in the form of an arc with a point located at the centralportion of the top plate 14 serving as the center. The rear end portion26 extends in the form of an L shape from the read end of the arcuatedportion 27 substantially backward obliquely right. The right inner wall17 located near the right side wall 22 has a gap between itself and theright side wall 22, and extends parallel to substantially the rear halfof the right side wall 22. In addition, the right side surface of afront end portion 17a is made thick so as to allow the right sidesurface of the front end portion 17a to be located closer to the rightside than the right side surface of the remaining portion. The remaininginner wall 18 has a gap between itself and a 1/4 right side portion ofthe rear wall 24 and extends parallel thereto.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a partition plate locking portionconstituted by a portion 28a protruding forward at substantially themiddle position between the middle and the right end of the rear wall 24in the right/left direction, and a portion 28b protruding substantiallybackward obliquely left from the front end of the portion 28a.

Reference numerals 29 denote partition plate support recesses formed inthe inner surface of the front end portion 21a of the left side wall 21;30, partition plate support recesses formed in the inner surface of thefront end portion 22a of the right side wall 22; 31, partition platesupport holes formed in the arcuated portion 27 of the inner wall 16;32, partition plate support recesses formed in the inner surface of thethick front end portion 17a of the right inner wall 17; 33, partitionplate holes formed in the inner wall 18; and 34, partition plate supportprojections extending from the inner surface of the rear wall 24. Thesepartition plate support recesses 29, 30 and 32, the partition platesupport holes 31 and 33, and the partition plate projections 34 arearranged four each at equal intervals in the height direction. Of thepartition plate support recesses 29, 30, and 32 and the partition platesupport holes 31 and 33, those arranged at the same order are at thesame height, and those at the uppermost positions are located to definea predetermined gap between themselves and the top plate 14. Inaddition, the partition plate support projections 34 are arranged atpositions respectively corresponding to portions between the supportrecesses 29 and the like.

The two bosses 19 and 20 are arranged at two corner portions of the rearside in the main portion 13, and tapping lower holes 35 are respectivelyformed in the lower surfaces of the bosses 19 and 20 and the thick frontend portions 21a and 22a of the left and right side walls 21 and 22.

Lid support holes 36 are respectively formed in the front end portions21a and 22a of the left and right side walls 21 and 22 at positionscorresponding to the corner portions near the rear ends of the lower endportions of the lid mounting notches 23.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a bottom plate of the magazine body 3. Thebottom plate 37 has a substantially rectangular plate-like shape. Mostof the bottom plate 37 except for a front end portion 37a is tightlyfitted in the lower end portion of the main portion 13, i.e., portionsbetween the lower end faces of the inner walls 16, 17 and 18 and of thebosses 19 and 20, and the lower end face of the outer wall 15. At thesame time, screws 39 extending through screw through holes 38 formednear the periphery of the bottom plate 37 are threadably engaged withthe tapping lower holes 35 so as to fix the bottom plate 37 to themagazine body 3 having an opening in only its front surface. A front endface 37a extends forward from the front surface of the main portion 13.

A notch 40 is formed in a portion of the front end upper surface of thebottom plate 37 except for both the end portions. A U-shaped notch 41 isformed in the right end portion of the notch 40. In addition, asubstantially L-shaped slider mounting recess 42 is formed in a cornerportion of the right front end of the upper surface of the bottom plate37. The front end of a portion 42a of the slider mounting recess 42extending along the forward/backward direction is continuous with thenotch 41.

The partition plates 5 have the same thickness and outer shape. Engagingportions 43 and 43' of the partition plates 5 laterally extending fromthe left and right ends of the front end portion thereof (Although FIG.4 shows only the uppermost partition plate 5, the same portions areformed on the remaining three partition plates 5. This also applies tothe following description.) are respectively engaged with the partitionsupport recesses 29 and 30 formed in the left and right side walls 21and 22 of the main portion 13. At the same time, corner portions 44which are formed by notching the rear half of the right end face of eachpartition plate 5 from substantially its center are engaged with thepartition plate support recesses 32 formed in the right inner wall 17 ofthe main portion 13. Projections 45 extending backward from theintermediate portions of the arcuated portions of the rear halves of theleft end faces and projections 46 extending backward from the right endportions of the rear end faces are respectively inserted in thepartition plate support holes 31 formed in the left inner wall 16 of themain portion 13 and the partition plate support holes 33 formed in therear inner wall 18. In addition, part of the rear edge of each partitionplate 5 is inserted between the partition plate support projections 34extending from the rear wall 24 of the main portion 13 or between thelowermost partion support projection 34 and the bottom plate 37. Withthis arrangement, the partition plates 5 are supported by the mainportion 13 in a stacked state at predetermined intervals in thethickness direction.

The lowermost partition plate 5 is stacked on the bottom plate 37. Inaddition, two locking portions 47 and 48 extend backward from eachpartition plate 5. Pawls 47a and 48a of the locking portions 47 and 48are respectively engaged with the rear end portions 26 and the partitionplate locking portions 28 of the left inner wall 16 of the main portion13 from the rear position, thereby preventing disconnection of thepartition plates 5 from the magazine body 3.

Low upright walls 49 are respectively formed on the rear portions of theupper surfaces of the partition plates 5 near the right edges. Eachupright wall 49 is arcuated about substantially the center of acorresponding partition plate 5.

With this arrangement, the space inside the magazine body 3 ispartitioned into four thin partial spaces in the height direction by thepartition plates 5. At the same time, the four partial spaces aredefined to have substantially U shapes open forward. These U-shapedspaces serve as the above-described disk housing spaces 7.

Low guide pins 50 are fixed on the upper surface of each partition plate5 at three positions of the right edge which are separate from eachother in the forward/backward direction. An arm support pin 51 is fixedat a position slightly separated from the last guide pin 50 in aslightly left, oblique backward direction. In addition, a spring hookpiece 5 extends from substantially the middle portion between the middleand the rear end of the right edge of the upper surface of eachpartition wall 5.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a notch formed at a position slightlyshifted forward from the middle of the left edge of each partition plate5. The notch 53 is formed at a position opposite to the spring mountingnotch 25 formed in the left inner wall 16 of the main portion 13.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a front surface portion constituting a mainportion of the lid 4. The front surface portion 54 has substantially thesame size as that of the front surface of the body 3 and has arectangular shape elongated in the right/left direction. In addition,the front surface portion 54 has a substantially U-shaped section openbackward. Reference numerals 55 denote arm portions extending backwardfrom substantially middle portions of the left and right end portions ofthe front surface portion 54 in the height direction. Support pins 55aare respectively formed in the rear end portions of the opposite sidesurfaces of the arm portions 55.

A shallow hook recess 54a having a substantially U shape is formed insubstantially the middle portion of the right end face of the frontsurface portion 54 in the height direction. The front end of the hookrecess 54a reaches the front surface of the front surface portion 54,while the size of the front end portion is increased toward the frontsurface.

The lid 4 is supported to be moved between the opening position and theclosing position in such a manner that the arm portions 55 arepositioned at the lid mounting notches 23 formed in the left and rightside walls 21 and 22 of the main portion 13, and at the same time thesupport pins 55a formed on the arm portions 55 are pivotally inserted inthe lid support holes 36 formed in the side walls 21 and 22,respectively. When the lid 4 is moved to the closing position, a lowerend portion 56 of the front surface portion 54 except for left and rightend portions is substantially fitted in the notch 40 formed in thebottom plate 37. In this state, the lower end portion 56 is brought intocontact with the surface of the notch 40 facing forward, thus preventingthe lid 4 from further pivoting to the counter-opening position.

Reference symbol 56a denotes an inclined surface formed on the lowersurface of the lower end portion of the lid 4, i.e., a surface facingdown when the lid 4 is moved to the closing position, at a position tooppose the notch 41 forced in the front end portion 37a of the bottomplate 37. In the above state, the inclined surface is displaced backwardas the surface extends upward.

The lock slider 10 is obtained by integrally forming a plate-like mainportion 57 which is elongated in the forward/backward direction and asubstantially U-shaped front end portion 58 which is open forward viewedin the right/left direction. Holes 57a elongated in the forward/backwarddirection are formed in the main portion 57, and a rear end portion 57bof the main portion 57 is bent upward. In addition, an upper piece 59 ofthe front end portion 58 is shorter than a lower piece 60, and a frontend portion 59a of the upper piece 59 has an inclined surface which isdisplaced backward as the surface extends upward.

The lock slider 10 having the above-described structure is designed tobe moved within a predetermined range in the forward/backward directionin such a manner that the lower portion of the front end portion 58 ispositioned in the notch 41 formed in the bottom plate 37 and the mainportion 57 is positioned in the portion 42a of the slider mountingrecess 42 which is formed in the bottom plate 37 and extends in theforward/backward direction, while guide pins 61 fixed in the recess 42are slidably engaged with elongated holes 58a. Reference numeral 62denotes a leaf spring as a spring means arranged at the rear end portionof the slider mounting recess 42. A distal end portion 62a of the leafspring 62 is brought into elastic contact with the rear end portion 57bof the lock slider 10 from the rear side. As a result, the lock slider10 is normally biased forward, and hence the front end face of the lowerpiece 60 of the front end portion of the lock slider 10 is held at alock position located on the same plane as that of the front end face ofthe bottom plate 37 while the lock slider 10 is not biased backward. Inthis state, the upper piece 59 is positioned to cross the locus ofpivotal movement of the lower end portion 56 of the front surfaceportion 54 of the lid 4.

When the lid 4 is moved to the closing position from a position otherthan the closing position, the inclined surface 56a formed on the lowersurface of the lower end portion 56 of the front surface portion 54 isbrought into contact with the inclined surface 59a formed on the upperpiece 59 of the lock slider 10 so as to urge the inclined surface 59aobliquely backward to move the lock slider 10 backward against theelastic force of the leaf spring 62. As a result, the lower end portion56 of the front surface portion 54 is positioned below the upper piece59 of the lock slider 10 at substantially the same time when the lid 4is moved to the closing position. Consequently, the lock slider 10 whichis once moved backward is returned to the lock position by the elasticforce of the leaf spring 62, and the upper piece 59 is engaged with thelower end portion 56 of the lid 4 from the above. With this operation,movement of the lid 4 to the opening position can be prevented. That is,the lid is locked to the closing position.

Since no opening is formed in the magazine body 3 except for the opening2 formed in its front surface, the interior of the magazine body 3 issubstantially perfectly sealed while the lid 4 is set at the closingposition to close the opening 2. In addition, the state of the lid 4set: at the closing position can be reliably held by the lock slider 10as described above.

Since entering of dust and the like into the disk magazine 1 can beprevented at least in a state wherein the opening 2 is closed by the lid4, adhering of dust and the like to the optical magnetic disks housed inthe disk magazine 1 can be prevented. In addition, this arrangement canprevent the optical magnetic disk 8 from slipping outside through theopening 2.

The disk hold spring 9 is made of a leaf spring material and has asubstantially rectangular shape which is elongated in theforward/backward direction when viewed in the right/left direction andis bent in substantially the form of an L shape when viewed from theabove. The disk hold spring 9 is formed into a substantially U shapewhich has a substantially middle portion in the forward/backwarddirection extends to the right and is open leftward. In addition, thedisk hold spring 9 comprises four hold pieces 64 which can berespectively bent in the thickness direction by three elongated grooves63 formed at substantially equal intervals in the height direction.

Most of the disk hold spring 9 is arranged in the space between the leftside wall 21 of the main portion 13 and the left inner wall 16, andmiddle portions 64a of the hold pieces 64 respectively extend into thedisk housing spaces 7 through the spring mounting notch 25 formed in theleft: inner wall 16 while portions of the middle portions 64a arelocated in the notches 53 of the partition plates 5.

The optical magnetic disks 8 are respectively housed in the disk housingspaces 7 at their deepest positions while the peripheries of the opticalmagnetic disks 8 are respectively in contact with portions of thearcuated portion 27 of the inner wall 16 corresponding to the diskhousing spaces 7 and with the upright walls 49 of the partition plates 5on which the optical magnetic disks 8 are mounted. When the middleportions 64a of the hold pieces 64 of the disk hold spring 9 are broughtinto elastic contact with the peripheries of the optical magnetic disks8 at slightly forward positions in this state as shown in FIG. 1, theoptical magnetic disks 8 are biased backward in a slightly oblique rightdirection. As a result, the optical magnetic disks 8 are held at thedeepest positions of the disk housing spaces 7.

FIG. 1 shows only the disk push means 6 arranged in the uppermost diskhousing space 7. However, other three disk push means 6 have the samestructure as that of the uppermost disk push means 6.

As described above, each dish push means 6 comprises the slide lever 11and the pivot arm 12.

The slide lever 11 has a plate-like shape which is elongated in theforward/backward direction and has guide recesses 65 formed in its lowersurface at three positions separate from each other in the longitudinaldirection. Each guide recess 65 has an elliptic shape elongated in thebackward/forward direction. In addition, a rack 66 is formed on the rearend portion of the left edge of the slide lever 11, and a small springhook piece 67 extends from the rear end portion of the right edge of theslide lever 11.

The slide lever 11 is supported by the partition plate 5 so as to slidewithin a predetermined range in the forward/backward direction in such amanner that the guide recesses 65 are slidably engaged with the threeguide pins 50 fixed on the upper surface of the partition plate 5.Therefore, the front end face 11a of the slide lever 11, i.e., theportion 11a to be depressed is directed forward. In addition, the slidelever 11 is normally biased forward by the tensile force of a tensionspring 68 serving as a spring means hooked between the spring hook piece67 of the slide lever 11 and the spring hook piece 52 formed on thepartition plate 5. Hence, while the slide lever 11 is not biasedbackward, the portion 11a (to be depressed) is held at a forwardposition slightly protruding from the front end face of the magazinebody 3.

A right end portion 69 of the pivot arm 12 has a substantially fan-likeshape when viewed from the above, and a remaining portion 70 is formedinto a substantially L shape having a slow curve. In addition, a supporthole 71 is formed at a position corresponding to the pivot of thefan-like portion 69, and an arcuated rack 69a is formed on the fan-likeportion 69.

The pivot arm 12 is supported by the partition plate 5 so as to befreely pivoted in the forward/backward direction in such a manner thatthe arm support pin 51 fixed on the partition plate 5 is inserted in thesupport hole 71. In addition, the rack 69a is meshed with the rack 66formed on the slide lever 11. When the slide lever 11 is at the forwardposition, a substantially half of the pivot end side of the slide lever11 is held at a non-push position which is in contact with the rear wall24 of the main portion 13. In this state, the front edge of the pivotarm 12 is brought into slight contact with or placed near the opticalmagnetic disk 8 from behind.

When the slide lever 11 is depressed from the front of the slide lever11 to be moved backward, since the rack 66 moves the rack 69a of thepivot arm 12 substantially backward, the pivot arm 12 is pivoted to thepush position indicated by an alternate long and two short dashed linein FIG. 1. As a result, a corresponding optical magnetic disk 8 ispushed out to partially protrude forward from the opening 2 of themagazine body 3, as indicated by an alternate long and two short dashedline in FIG. 1. At this time, the hold piece 64 of the disk hold spring9 which has been in contact with the optical magnetic disk 8 is pushedto the left once. Subsequently, when the optical magnetic disk 8 doesnot oppose the hold piece 64, it returns to the position at which itprotrudes into the disk housing space 7.

Note that release of lock of the lid 4 by means of the lock slider 10,movement of the lid 4 from the closing position to the opening position,and depression of the slide lever 11 are performed by attaching the diskmagazine 1 to a recording/reproducing apparatus (to be described later)or using the disk loading apparatus attached to therecording/reproducing apparatus.

An embodiment wherein the disk loading apparatus of the presentinvention is applied to a disk loading apparatus in arecording/reproducing apparatus using the above-described opticalmagnetic disk magazine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6to 14.

Reference numeral 72 denotes a recording/reproducing apparatus.

Reference numeral 73 denotes an outer casing of therecording/reproducing apparatus 72. A magazine insertion port 74a isformed in the upper end portion of a front surface 74 of the outercasing 73. The magazine insertion port 74a is elongated in theright/left direction (With regard to the recording/reproducing apparatus72, in FIG. 6, the left oblique downward direction is assumed to be theleft direction; and the right oblique upward direction, the rightdirection. In addition, in FIG. 6, the right oblique downward directionis assumed to the forward direction; and the left oblique upwarddirection, the backward direction.)

First to fourth recording/reproducing drive units 75₁, 75₂, 75₃ (notshown) and 75₄ are arranged in a substantially rear half space in theouter casing 73 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction.The uppermost first recording/reproducing drive unit 75₁ is placed at aposition substantially opposite to the magazine insertion port 74a.These four recording/reproducing drive units 75₁, 75₂, 75₃ and 75₄respectively comprise members and mechanisms necessary for a recordingand/or reproducing operation with respect to the optical magnetic disks8, e.g., mechanical chassis 76 fixed to the outer casing 73, turntables77 to be respectively rotated by motors (not shown) fixed to themechanical chassis 76, recording/reproducing head portions (not shown)respectively supported by the mechanical chassis 76 so as to behorizontally movable, disk lift members 78 respectively supported by themechanical chassis 76 so as to be vertically movable, and clampers 79respectively supported by the disk lift members 78.

Reference numeral 80 denotes a magazine carrier on which the diskmagazine 1 is detachably mounted. The magazine carrier 80 is supportedby a guide means (not shown) fixed to the outer casing 73 so as to bevertically movable, and is moved by a carrier moving mechanism 81between four feed positions at which the optical magnetic disks 8 in themounted disk magazine 1 are respectively fed to therecording/reproducing drive units 75₁, 75₂, 75₃ and 75₄. The carriermoving mechanism 81 comprises a pulley 81d for applying proper tensionto a wire 81c looped around pulleys 81a and 81b rotatably supported bythe outer casing 73, and a motor for driving the pulley 81b. Part of aside 81c' of the wire 81c is fixed to a side wall of the magazinecarrier 80.

The magazine carrier 80 has a rectangular frame-like shape which iselongated in the forward/backward direction. A magazine mounting portion82a is formed on the upper surface of a bottom plate 82 of the magazinecarrier 80. The disk magazine 1 is inserted from the initial positioninto the outer casing 73 by a predetermined amount to be mounted on themagazine carrier 80.

Note that a lid opening/closing mechanism 83 for moving the lid 4 of thedisk magazine 1 to the opening position is provided to the magazinecarrier 80. When the disk magazine 1 is to be mounted on the magazinecarrier 80, the lid 4 is moved to the opening position. When the diskmagazine 1 is to be taken out from the magazine carrier 80, the lid 4 ismoved to the closing position.

Reference numerals 84 denote disk loading apparatuses respectivelyprovided to the disk lift members 78 of the recording/reproducing driveunits 75 (FIG. 7 shows the overall arrangement of only the disk loadingapparatus 84 provided to the disk lift member 78 of the uppermostrecording/reproducing portion 75₁, and shows partial arrangements of thedisk loading apparatuses provided to the disk lift members 78 of theother three recording/reproducing drive units 75₂, 75₃ and 75₄. However,these disk loading apparatuses have the same structure.) Each loadingapparatus 84 is designed to perform loading, i.e., taking out apredetermined one of the four optical magnetic disks 8 housed in thedisk magazine 1 to feed it to a corresponding disk lift member 78, andunloading, i.e., returning the optical magnetic disk 8, which has beenfed to the disk lift member 78, into the disk magazine 1. Each loadingapparatus 84 comprises one loading motor 85, a driving gear 86 to berotated by the motor 85, a press lever 87 which is supported to bemovable in the forward/backward direction and is moved by the drivinggear 86, a pair of upper and lower disk feed rollers 88 and 89 servingas a disk transfer means to be rotated by the motor 85, an the like.When loading is to be performed, the loading motor 85 is rotated in theforward direction to cause the press lever 87 to urge a predeterminedone of the four slide levers 11 of the disk magazine 1, as shown in FIG.12C. As a result, a corresponding optical magnetic disk 8 is pushed outfrom the disk magazine 1 to the disk lift member 78 side as indicated bya thick alternate long and two short dashed line in FIG. 8.Subsequently, the optical magnetic disk 8 which was pushed out of thedisk magazine 1 is transferred to the disk lift member 78 by the diskfeed rollers 88 and 89, as indicated by an alternate long and shortdashed line in FIG. 8. When unloading is to be performed, the loadingmotor 85 is rotated in the reverse direction to cause the disk feedrollers 88 and 89 to transfer the optical magnetic disk 8 which isplaced on the disk lift member 78 into the disk magazine 1. At thistime, the press lever 87 is controlled so as not to move.

Reference numeral 90 denotes a lid opening slider which is supported ata corner portion on the left side of the magazine carrier 80 so as to befreely moved in the forward/backward direction within a predeterminedrange. The lid opening slider 90 comprises a horizontal bottom portion91 and a side portion 92 extending from the left edge of the bottomportion 91. An abutment 91a is formed upright on the rear edge of thebottom portion 91 and is normally biased forward by an elastic means(not shown).

Reference numeral 93 denotes a lid opening arm pivotally supported onthe left side surface of the side portion 92. A hook pin 94 extends fromthe right side surface of the pivot end portion of the lid opening arm93. A fan-like gear 95 is fixed to the left side surface of the lidopening arm 93. Reference numeral 96 denotes a rack fixed to themagazine carrier 80 so as to extend in the forward/backward directionabove the fan-like gear 95.

While the opening slider 90 is not biased backward, the fan-like gear 95is meshed with the front end portion of the rack 96. As a result, theopening arm 93 is held at a position at which the opening arm 93substantially horizontally extends, as indicated by a solid line in FIG.11.

When the disk magazine 1 is inserted in the magazine carrier 80, thelower piece of the front end portion 58 of the lock slider 10 is broughtinto contact with the abutment 91a of the lid opening slider 90 and isrelatively inserted in the disk magazine 1. As a result, the upper piece59 is moved to a lock release position which is separated from the locusof rotation of the lower end portion 56 of the lid 4, as shown in FIG.11. At substantially the same time, the hook pin 94 of the lid openingarm 93 is relatively engaged with the hook recess 54a formed in the lid4. When the disk magazine 1 is further inserted, the lid opening slider90 and the disk magazine 1 are integrally moved backward. At this time,when the fan-like gear 95 is meshed with the rack 96 and moved backward,the fan-like gear 95 and the lid opening arm 93 are rotated clockwise inFIG. 11. As a result, the lid 4 is moved to the opening position, asindicated by an alternate long and two dashed line in FIG. 11.

When the lid opening slider 90 is moved to a predetermined position, thelid opening slider 90 and the disk magazine 1 are locked to the magazinecarrier 80 by a lock means (not shown) formed on the magazine carrier80. With this operation, attachment of the disk magazine 1 on themagazine carrier 80 is completed. Movement of the magazine carrier 80 isperformed in this state. Therefore, when the magazine carrier 80 opposesthe recording/reproducing drive units 75, the portions 11a (to bedepressed) of the slide levers 11 of the disk push means 6 formed on thedisk magazine 1 oppose the recording/reproducing drive units 75,respectively.

Each disk loading apparatus 84 comprises a disk push portion, includingthe driving gear 86 and the press lever 87, for actuating apredetermined disk push means 6 of the disk magazine 1, a disk transferportion, including the disk feed rollers 88 and 89, for transferring theoptical magnetic disk 8 which is pushed out of the disk magazine 1, tothe disk lift member 78 and for returning the optical magnetic disk 8into the disk magazine 1, and one driving portion including the loadingmotor 85 and commonly used for the disk push portion and the disktransfer portion.

Reference numeral 97 (see FIG. 8) denotes a motor support plate fixed toa left side wall 98 of the disk lift member 78. The loading motor 85 isfixed on the motor support plate 97 in a direction in which the axialdirection of the loading motor 85 is aligned with the forward/backwarddirection. A worm gear 99 is fixed to a rotating shaft 85a of theloading motor 85.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a support shaft horizontally extendingfrom the left side wall 98 to the right. A rotation transmitting member101 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 100. The rotationtransmitting member 101 is designed such that a worm wheel 102, alarge-diameter spur gear 103, and a pinion gear 104 are coaxiallyarranged in this order and are integrally formed. The worm wheel 102 ismeshed with the worm gear 99.

The loading motor 85 is rotated in the forward direction during loading,and is rotated in the reverse direction during unloading. The directionof forward rotation of the loading motor 85 coincides with that of theclockwise rotation of the rotation transmitting member 101 in FIG. 12.

The press lever 87 is obtained by integrally forming a horizontal upperpiece 105, a side piece 106 and a press piece 107. The side piece 106 ispositioned to protrude downward from the left edge of the upper piece105. The press piece 107 protrudes downward from the right end of thefront edge of the upper piece 105 and has a substantially L shape whenviewed from the left side. Guide holes 108 which are elongated in theforward/backward direction are formed in the upper piece 105, and threescrew holes 109 (see FIG. 10) are formed in the side piece 106.

Three guide pins 111 (only two of them are shown in FIG. 12) are fixedon the right end portion of the lower surface of a top plate 110 of thedisk lift member 78. The press lever 87 is supported by the top plate110 so as to be freely moved in the forward/backward direction within apredetermined range in such a manner that the guide holes 108 of thepress lever 87 are slidably engaged with the guide pins 111,respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, the side piece 106 substantiallyhorizontally opposes the left side wall 98 of the disk lift member 78with a slight gap formed therebetween.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a control plate as a clutch means attachedto the press lever 87.

The control plate 112 is integrally formed by the following componentsusing a leaf spring material: a middle piece 113 having a heightsubstantially 1/2 that of the side piece 106 of the press lever 87; arear piece 114 located behind the middle piece 113, having a lower endportion continuously formed with the lower end portion of the middlepiece 113, and having a height substantially 1.5 times that of themiddle piece 113; and a guide piece 115 which has a width slightlysmaller than that of the middle piece 113 and which is continuouslyformed with substantially the lower half of the middle piece 113 andbent in a substantially right oblique forward direction. Mounting holes116 (see FIG. 10) are respectively formed in the upper end portion ofthe middle piece 113 and the upper and lower end portions of the rearpiece 114. A portion 117 between the middle piece 113 and the rear piece114 has a groove-like shape which is vertically elongated. The lower endportion of the portion 117 (to be referred to as a groove hereinafter)is located at the lower end portion of the control plate 112, and itsupper end is open.

The control plate 112 is fixed to the side piece 106 such that screws118 inserted through the mounting holes 116 are threadably engaged withthe screw holes 109, respectively. By respectively inserting spacers119, in which the screws 118 are fitted, between the side piece 106 andthe control plate 112, a predetermined gap between the side piece 106and the control plate 112, i.e., a gap allowing the right end of theguide piece 115 to be brought into slight contact with or located nearthe side piece 106 is formed.

Since the control plate 112 is supported by the press lever 87 so as tobe moved integrally therewith, and its attachment to the press lever 87is performed in the above-described manner, a portion 120 (to bereferred to as a flexible portion hereinafter) of the portion extendingforward from a position where the middle and rear pieces 113 and 114 arecontinuous except for the upper end portion of the middle piece 113fixed to the press lever can be displaced to some degree in thethickness direction, i.e., the right/left direction.

The driving gear 86 substantially has a shape of a spur gear. The radiusof the driving gear 86 is slightly smaller than the height of the middlepiece 113 of the control plate 112. A press pin 121 as an engagingportion substantially horizontally extends from a position near theperiphery of the right side surface of the driving gear 86. Note thatthe press pin 121 consists of a shaft 121a fixed to the driving gear 86,and a roller 121b rotatably fitted on the shaft 121a. Part of thetoothed portion of the driving gear 86 is removed. The removed portion,i.e., a non-toothed portion 122a extends within the range of a centralangle of about 135°. Consequently, a toothed portion 86a is formedwithin the range of a central angle of about 225°.

Reference numeral 123 denotes a gear support shaft horizontallyextending to the right from a position located at substantially the sameheight as that of a position of a portion of the left side wall 98 ofthe disk lift member 78 opposite to the control plate 112, at which themiddle piece 113 of the control plate 112 is fixed to the press lever87. The driving gear 86 is rotatably supported by the gear support shaft123.

With this arrangement, the driving gear 86 is positioned such that agiven range of the lower portion of the locus of rotation of the presspin 121 opposes the flexible portion 120 of the control plate 112. Thedistal end of the press pin 121 extends near the side piece 106 of thepress lever 87 from the left.

Note that the distal end portion of the press pin 121 is slidablyengaged with the lower end portion of the groove 117 of the controlplate 112 prior to loading.

Reference numeral 124 denotes an elongated plate-like swing lever.Substantially the middle portion of the swing lever 124 is pivotallysupported by a portion between the rotation transmitting member 101 ofthe support shaft 100 which supports the rotation transmitting member101 and the left side wall 98. A swing gear 126 is rotatably supportedby the right portion of a shaft 125 which is fixed to the swing lever124 such that one pivot end portion extends in the thickness direction.The swing gear 126 is always meshed with the pinion gear 104 of therotation transmitting member 101.

Note that reference numeral 127 denotes a restricting hole formed in theleft side wall 98 of the disk lift member 78. The left end portion ofthe shaft 125 supporting the swing gear 126 is positioned in therestricting hole 127. As a result, the pivotal range of the swing lever124 is restricted such that the swing lever 124 pivots between aposition (to be referred to as a first position hereinafter) where theshaft 125 is in contact with a lower edge 127a of the restricting hole127 as shown in FIG. 12A and a position (to be referred to as a secondposition hereinafter) where the shaft 125 is in contact with an upperedge 127b of the restricting hole 127 as shown in FIG. 12B. In addition,the swing gear 126 opposes the driving gear 86 substantially frombehind, so that whenever the swing gear 126 is positioned to oppose thetoothed portion 86a of the driving gear 86, they are meshed with eachother regardless of the position of the swing lever 124 in the pivotalrange. Moreover, when the rotation transmitting member 101 is rotated,its rotational force is applied to the swing lever 124 through afriction means. As a result, a pivotal force acts on the swing lever124.

FIG. 12A shows a state prior to loading of a disk and a state when diskunloading is completed. In this state, the swing lever 124 is set at thefirst position, and a clockwise end (in FIG. 12A) of the non-toothedportion 122 of the driving gear 86 opposes the swing gear 126 while thepress pin 121 is located at a position (to be referred to as an initialposition hereinafter) where the pin 121 is engaged with the lower endportion of the groove 117 of the control plate 121 at a positionslightly shifted backward from the position immediately under therotational center of the driving gear 86. While the driving gear 86 isset at this initial position, the press lever 87 is held at a position(to be referred to as a non-push position hereinafter) where the pressportion 107a opposes the portions (to be depressed) 11a of the slidelevers 11 of the disk magazine 1 mounted on the magazine carrier 80 witha predetermined distance L (see FIG. 12A) being left therebetween.

With this arrangement, when the loading motor 85 is rotated in theforward direction, the rotation transmitting member 101 is rotatedcounterclockwise in FIGS. 12A to 12D. Consequently, as shown in FIG.12B, the swing lever 124 is moved to the second position to cause theswing gear 126 to be meshed with the counterclockwise end portion of thetoothed portion 86a of the driving gear 86 and to cause the swing gear126 to rotate clockwise. As a result, the driving gear 86 is rotatedcounterclockwise. Since the press pin 121 of the driving gear 86 ismoved counterclockwise, the press pin 121 urges the front edge 117a ofthe groove 117 of the control plate 112 substantially forward, therebymoving the control plate 112 and the press lever 87 forward.

The control plate 112 is urged forward by the press pin 121 to aposition where the press pin 121 is positioned in front of therotational center of the driving gear 86, i.e., the forward movementcomponent becomes zero, as shown in FIG. 12C. Meanwhile, the press lever87 is moved forward by a distance slightly larger than the distance L,so that the press portion 107a of the press lever 87 pushes apredetermined slide lever 11 of the disk magazine 1 by a predeterminedamount, as shown in FIG. 12C. With this operation, the optical magneticdisk 8 corresponding to the pushed slide lever 11 is pushed out of theopening 2 of the disk magazine 1 toward the recording/reproducingportion 75 side.

The driving gear 86 is continuously rotated until the clockwise endportion of the toothed portion 86a is disengaged from the swing gear126, and the non-toothed portion 122 opposes the swing gear 126. Sincethe movement of the press pin 121 during this period includes backwardmovement components, the press pin 121 urges the rear edge 117b of thegroove 117 of the control plate 112, i.e., the front edge of the rearpiece 114 backward. Therefore, the control plate 112 and the press lever87 are moved backward, and at the same time the press pin 121 is movedupward from the groove 117.

When the counterclockwise rotation of the driving gear 86 is stopped inthis manner, the press pin 121 comes to a position substantiallyvertically symmetrical with the initial position. Consequently, thepress lever 87 is returned to the non-push position. In addition,rotation of the loading motor 85 is stopped upon completion of transferof the disk by means of the disk feed rollers 88 and 89.

If the loading motor 85 is rotated in the reverse direction in thisstate, the rotation transmitting member 101 is rotated clockwise, andhence the swing lever 124 is moved to the first position to cause theswing gear 126 to be meshed with the clockwise end portion of thetoothed portion 86a of the driving gear 86 and to rotate the swing gear126 counterclockwise. As a result, the driving gear 86 is rotatedclockwise. In this case, since the press pin 121 is not engaged with thegroove 117 of the control plate 112, the press pin 121 is movedclockwise without moving the control plate 112 and the press lever 87.When the driving gear 86 makes a substantially half turn, the distal endof the press pin 121 is brought into contact with the guide piece 115 ofthe control plate 112 from substantially the front thereof, as shown inFIG. 14A. Consequently, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14B, the press pin 121rides on the left side surface of the flexible portion 120 of thecontrol plate 112 and moves while bending the flexible portion 120rightward. When the driving gear 86 returns to the initial position, thepress pin 121 opposes the groove 117. As a result, the flexible portion120 returns to its original position, and the press pin 121 is engagedwith the lower end portion of the groove 117, as shown in FIG. 14C. Atsubstantially the same time, since the non-toothed portion 122 of thedriving gear 86 opposes the swing gear 126, the rotation of the drivinggear 86 is stopped. With this operation, the disk push portion isrestored to the state prior to loading, i.e., the state shown in FIG.12A.

Reference numeral 128 denotes a support frame (see FIGS. 7 and 8) fixedto the upper surface of a bottom plate 129 of the disk lift member 78.The support frame 128 is constituted by left and right side walls 130and 130', and a top plate 131 coupling the rear portions of the upperedges of the side walls 130 and 130', i.e., a member 131 supporting theclamper 79 so as to have a substantially U shape which is open downwardin the forward/backward direction and is elongated in the right/leftdirection.

Reference symbol 89a denotes a shaft of the lower disk feed roller 89.The left and right end portions of the shaft 89a are rotatably supportedby the front end portions of the side walls 130 and 130' of the supportframe 128, while a gear 132 is fixed to a portion of the shaft 89 whichprotrudes from the left side wall 130 to the left.

As described above, the disk lift member 78 is supported by themechanical chassis 76 so as to be vertically movable within thepredetermined range, and is moved between an upper position (shown inFIG. 7) and a lower position slightly lower than the upper position.This movement is performed by sliders 133 (see FIG. 8) which arearranged on the mechanical chassis 76 so as to be moveable in theforward/backward direction.

Reference numerals 134 and 134' denote roller support arms which arepivotally supported by arm support shafts 135 and 135', respectively,which are fixed at positions near the front ends of the left and rightside walls 130 and 130'. In addition, both the end portions of the shaft88a of the upper disk feed roller 88 are rotatably supported by thepivot end portions of the roller support arms 134 and 134'. A gear 136is fixed to a portion of the shaft 88a which protrudes to the left fromthe roller support arm 134 on the left side.

Reference numeral 137 denotes a shaft protruding to the left fromsubstantially the middle portion of the left roller support arm 134. Adirection change gear 138 is rotatably supported by the shaft 137. Thedirection change gear 138 is normally meshed with the gear 136.

Reference numeral 139 denotes a reduction gear having a relatively largediameter. A large-diameter portion 139a and a small-diameter portion139b are integrally formed and are rotatably supported by a portion ofthe arm support shaft 135 on the left side which protrudes from theroller support arm 134 to the left. The large-diameter gear 103 of therotation transmitting member 101 is meshed with the large-diameterportion 139a substantially from behind, and the gear 132 fixed to theshaft 89a of the lower disk feed roller 89 is meshed with thelarge-diameter portion 139a substantially from the front thereof. Thedirection change gear 138 is normally meshed with the small-diameterportion 139b.

The roller support arms 134 and 134' supporting the shaft 88a of theupper disk feed roller 88 are normally biased by the elastic force of anelastic means (not shown) so as to pivot clockwise in FIG. 7. While thedisk lift member 78 is set at the upper position, the disk feed roller88 is in elastic contact with the lower disk feed roller 89substantially from above, as shown in FIG. 7. When the disk lift member78 is moved to the lower position, since the roller support arms 134 and134' are pivoted counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by the cam sliders 133 and133', the upper disk feed roller 88 is moved to a position indicated byan alternate long and two short dashed line in FIG. 7, i.e., a positionwhich is separated upward from the lower disk feed roller 89.

When the loading motor 85 is rotated in the forward direction, therotation transmitting member 101 is rotated counterclockwise, and hencethe reduction gear 139 is rotated clockwise. As a result, the gear 132is rotated counterclockwise, and hence the lower disk feed roller 89 isrotated counterclockwise. In addition, since the direction change gear138 and the gear 136 are respectively rotated counterclockwise andclockwise, the upper disk feed roller 88 is rotated clockwise.

When the loading motor 85 is rotated in the reverse direction, the upperand lower disk feed rollers 88 and 89 are respectively rotatedcounterclockwise and clockwise.

With this arrangement, while the disk lift member 78 is set at the upperposition, the upper and lower disk feed rollers 88 and 89 are in elasticcontact with each other. If the loading motor 85 is rotated in thisstate, the two disk feed rollers 88 and 89 are rotated in the oppositedirections in elastic contact with each other. Therefore, if the opticalmagnetic disk 8 is inserted in a contact portion between the disk feedrollers 88 and 89 from the front thereof as indicated by a solid line inFIG. 7 while the loading motor 85 is rotated in the forward direction,the disk feed rollers 88 and 89 transfer the optical magnetic disk 8backward. If the loading motor 85 is rotated in the reverse directionwhile part of the optical magnetic disk 8 is clamped between the diskfeed rollers 88 and 89, the optical magnetic disk 8 is transferredforward.

Loading and unloading of the optical magnetic disk 8 is performed by thedisk loading apparatus 84 having the above-described arrangement in thefollowing manner.

Note that the following description is based on a state wherein themagazine carrier 80 is set at the initial position, i.e., the positionwhere an optical magnetic disk is fed to the first recording/reproducingdrive unit 75₁.

In disk loading, the loading motor 85 is rotated in the forwarddirection to rotate the upper and lower disk feed rollers 88 and 89clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, while they are in elasticcontact with each other. At the same time, the press lever 87 is movedforward to urge the slide lever 11. As a result, the optical magneticdisk 8 is pushed out of the disk magazine 1 to be fed between the diskfeed rollers 88 and 89. With this operation, the optical magnetic disk 8is transferred by the disk feed roller 88 and 89 to a disk mountingportion (not shown) of the disk lift member 78, as indicated by analternate long and two short dashed line in FIG. 7 or an alternate longand short dashed line in FIG. 8. Thereafter, the rotation of the loadingmotor 85 is stopped.

When the feed operation of the optical magnetic disk 8 to the disk liftmember 78 is completed, the cam sliders 133 are moved to move the disklift member 78 to the lower position. At this time, the upper disk feedroller 88 is separated upward from the lower disk feed roller 89. Inaddition, the optical magnetic disk 8 is mounted on the turntable 7 asindicated by an alternate long and short dashed line in FIG. 7 slightlybefore the disk lift member 78 reaches the lower position. Subsequently,the clamper 79 clamps the central portion of the optical magnetic disk 8and is drawn to the turntable 77 by suction. As a result, the opticalmagnetic disk 8 is mounted on the turntable 77. Although part of theoptical magnetic disk 8 is positioned between the two disk feed rollers88 and 89 in this state, both the disk feed rollers 88 and 89 areseparated from the optical magnetic disk 8.

In unloading, the magazine carrier 80 is moved to a position to opposethe first recording/reproducing drive unit 75₁, and at the same time thecam sliders 133 are moved to move the disk lift member 78 to the upperposition. As a result, the optical magnetic disk 8 is separated upwardfrom the turntable 77, and the clamper 79 is separated upward from theoptical magnetic disk 8. At the same time, the lower disk feed roller 89is brought into contact with the optical magnetic disk 8 from below, andthe upper disk feed roller 88 is brought into elastic contact with thelower disk feed roller 89 through the optical magnetic disk 8.

The loading motor 85 is rotated in the reverse direction in this state.Consequently, the upper and lower disk feed rollers 88 and 89 arerotated counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively. As a result, theoptical magnetic disk 8 is transferred forward and is returned to apredetermined disk housing space 7 of the disk magazine 1. At the sametime, the driving gear 86 is returned to the initial position, and itspress pin 121 is engaged with the lower end of the groove 117 of thecontrol plate 112.

A modification of the disk loading device will be described below withreference to FIG. 15.

Optical magnetic disks 201 are vertically stacked in a disk magazine202. A lid 220 for opening/closing a disk ejecting opening is pivotallyattached to the disk magazine 202 with a support pin 211 serving as thepivot center.

A plurality of recording/reproducing drive units 204 are verticallystacked in a recording/reproducing apparatus 203. A magazine insertionport 206 having an opening/closing lid 205 is formed in a front panel203a of the recording/reproducing apparatus 203. A magazine carrier 207is arranged in the recording/reproducing apparatus 203 between the frontpanel 203a and the plurality of recording/reproducing disk drive units204. A magazine insertion space 208 is formed in the magazine carrier207 with its front and rear ends being open. The magazine carrier 207 isdesigned to be transferred along the plurality of recording/reproducingdrive units 204 in the directions indicated by arrows a and a', i.e.,vertically by a transfer mechanism 211 comprising, e.g., a guide rail209, a guide roller 210, a driving belt, and a motor (none of which areshown). Each of the plurality of recording/reproducing drive units 204comprises, e.g., a disk table 212 to be driven by a driving motor (notshown), a disk chuck 213 which can be freely raised and lowered withrespect to the disk table 212, and a recording/reproducing head (notshown). In addition, each unit 204 comprises, e.g., a disk loadingapparatus 216 constituted by, e.g., a press lever 214 and a plurality offeed rollers 215 as a disk transfer means.

Note that the number of optical magnetic disks 201 to be housed in thedisk magazine 202 is preferably set to be equal to or an integermultiple of that of recording/reproducing drive units 204, or to beequal to the number larger by one than that of the units 204.

Loading and unloading of the optical magnetic disks 201 are performed bythe disk loading apparatuses 216 in the following manner.

In disk loading, the disk magazine 202 is inserted in the magazinecarrier 207 through the magazine insertion port 206 of therecording/reproducing apparatus in the direction indicated by an arrowf, and is attached to the recording/reproducing apparatus while the diskmagazine 202 is inserted in the magazine insertion space 208.

In this case, the lid 220 can be opened upon insertion of the diskmagazine 202 into the magazine carrier 207 in the direction indicated bythe arrow f.

Upon attachment of the disk magazine 202 to the magazine carrier 207,the magazine carrier 207 is transferred along the guide rail 9 in thedirection indicated by the arrow a by the transfer mechanism 211. Thedisk magazine 202 is transferred along the plurality ofrecording/reproducing drive units 204 in the direction indicated by thearrow a by the magazine carrier 207.

Upon transfer of the disk magazine 202, the plurality of opticalmagnetic disks 201 housed in the disk magazine 202 are sequentially andautomatically transferred to loading and unloading positionsrespectively opposing the disk loading apparatuses of therecording/reproducing drive units 204 in a designated order.

In this case, the magazine carrier 207 is temporarily stopped every timea designated optical magnetic disk 201 is transferred to a designatedloading or unloading position.

While the magazine carrier 207 is temporarily stopped, the press lever214 of each disk loading apparatus 216 pushes a portion (to be pushed)of a designated disk push means (not shown) in the disk magazine 202. Asa result, the designated optical magnetic disk 201 is pushed out of thedisk magazine 202 by the disk push means. The pushed out opticalmagnetic disk 202 is then automatically fed in the direction indicatedby an arrow g by disk feed rollers 215 of a corresponding disk loadingapparatus. After the optical magnetic disk 201 is automatically loadedon the disk table 212 of the designated recording/reproducing drive unit204, it is fixed on the disk table 212 by a corresponding disk chuck213.

By repeating the above-described operation, the plurality of opticalmagnetic disks 201 housed in the disk magazine 202 are sequentially andautomatically loaded in the plurality of recording/reproducing driveunits 204 in the designated order.

After the above loading operation, the plurality of optical magneticdisks 201 are simultaneously rotated by the disk tables 212 of therecording/reproducing drive units 204. As a result, one data isseparately and simultaneously recorded/reproduced in/from the pluralityof optical magnetic disks 201 by the plurality of recording/reproducingheads of the recording/reproducing drive units 204, thereby performingrecording/reproducing at high transfer rate in a high signal band.

After the above-described recording/reproducing operation, if theabove-described loading operation is reversed, the plurality of opticalmagnetic disks 201 loaded in the plurality of recording/reproducingdrive units 204 can be sequentially and automatically unloaded andhoused in the disk magazine 202 in a designated order.

In this case, if the disk magazine 202 is taken out from the magazinecarrier 207 in the direction indicated by an arrow f' upon the aboveoperation, one set of optical magnetic disks 201 can be stocked whilethey are housed in one disk magazine 202 with the lid 220 closing thedisk magazine 202.

We claim:
 1. A disk magazine capable of accommodating a plurality ofdisks used for recording and reproducing information, in a verticaldirection and in such a way as to be in layers and spaced away from oneanother; having an opening for taking out the disks in one side thereof;and capable of detachably mounting on an apparatus for recording and/orreproducing information, the disk magazine comprising:a pivoted lid forclosing said opening; and a plurality of disk pushing means for pushingout said respective disks accommodated in said disk magazine by apredetermined projection amount through said opening by means ofpressing a pressed portion thereof, which is arranged near said openingon said one side, said lid also covering said pressed portion when saidlid is in a closed condition.
 2. A disk magazine capable ofaccommodating a plurality of disks used for recording and reproducinginformation, stacked in such a way as to be in layers and spaced awayfrom one another; having an opening for taking out the disks in one sidethereof; and capable of detachably mounting on an apparatus forrecording and/or reproducing information, the disk magazine comprising:apivoted lid for closing said opening; and a plurality of disk pushingmeans for pushing out said respective disks accommodated in said diskmagazine by a predetermined projection amount through said opening bymeans of pressing a pressed portion thereof, which is arranged near saidopening, in which said disk pushing means includes a sliding memberhaving said pressed portion, and a rotating member rotated by saidsliding member so as to push said disk out, wherein said sliding memberprovides a rack thereon, and said rotating member provides a sectorwheel portion engaged with said rack.
 3. A disk magazine according toclaim 2, in which a spring means is provided to urge said sliding memberand said rotating member toward their return positions.
 4. A diskmagazine having a housing accommodating a plurality of disks used forrecording and reproducing information, stacked in such a way as to be inlayers and spaced away from one another; said housing having an openingfor taking out the disks in one side thereof; and capable of detachablymounting on an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information,the disk magazine comprising:said housing having said opening; a pivotedlid for closing said opening; and a plurality of disk pushing means,each said pushing means having a pressed portion thereof located nearsaid opening and arranged coverable by said lid, each said disk pushingmeans for pushing out said respective disks accommodated in said diskmagazine by a predetermined projection amount through said opening; anda locking means movably mounted to said housing and movable to hold saidlid so as not to be opened, said locking means releasable from said lidby being pressed in a direction of insertion of said magazine to saidapparatus.
 5. A disk magazine capable of accommodating a plurality ofdisks used for recording and reproducing information, stacked in such away as to be in layers and spaced away from one another; having anopening for taking out the disks in one side thereof; and capable ofdetachably mounting on an apparatus for recording and/or reproducinginformation, the disk magazine comprising:a pivoted lid for closing saidopening; and a plurality of disk pushing means for pushing out saidrespective disks accommodated in said disk magazine by a predeterminedprojection amount through said opening, by means of pressing a pressedportion thereof, which is arranged near said opening; a locking means isprovided to lock said lid so as not to be opened, said locking meansarranged to be unlocked by said apparatus upon the mounting of saidmagazine to said apparatus; and said locking means comprises a slidingmember which is moveable between a locking and an unlocking position,and a spring means which urges said sliding member toward its lockingposition.
 6. A disk magazine according to claim 5, in which said slidingmember of the locking means can be operated from the outside of saidmagazine.
 7. A disk magazine having a housing capable of accommodating aplurality of disks used for recording and reproducing information,stacked in such a way as to be in layers and spaced away from oneanother; said housing having an opening for taking out the disks in oneside thereof; and capable of detachably mounting on an apparatus forrecording and/or reproducing information, the disk magazinecomprising:said housing having said opening; a pivoted lid for closingsaid opening; and a plurality of disk pushing means, each said pushingmeans having a pressed portion thereof located near said opening forpushing out said respective disks accommodated in said disk magazine bya predetermined projection amount through said opening; and a lockingmeans to positively latch said lid so as not to be opened, said lockingmeans unlockable by being pressed in a direction of insertion of saidmagazine to said apparatus; wherein said pivoted lid comprises a lowerend portion directed toward said locking means when said lid is in aclosed position; and said locking means comprises a plate slidablyconnected to said housing, and a first front end portion connected tosaid plate and arranged to overlie said lower end portion to preventpivoting of said lid in a direction away from said locking means.
 8. Adisk magazine according to claim 7, wherein said locking means furthercomprises a second front end portion forming a U-shaped with said firstfront end portion, said second front end portion exposed to saidapparatus on a front side of said magazine with said lid in said closedposition.
 9. A disk magazine according to claim 7, wherein said firstfront end portion provides an inclined front surface, and said plate isresiliently biased in a forward position, said lower end portion alignedto be engageable against said inclined surface during closing of saidlid to force said plate in a reverse direction against said bias untilsaid lower end portion clears said inclined surface whereupon said plateand said first front end portion move forward to cause said first frontend portion to overlie said lower end portion.
 10. A disk magazineaccording to claim 9, wherein said lower end portion provides on arearward facing surface thereof an inclined surface planarly matchingsaid inclined surface of said first front end portion.